Depends who you ask. I love my Vexilar FL8-SLT. I wouldn't say I wouldn't fish without it but I do not think I would catch as many without it. Especially on suspending type of fish.
Ask someone who has a cheap LCD typ and they will look at you like you are an idiot for spending the extra money for a Vex or Marcum. Ask a Marcum partisan and they will tell you they have the real deal.
If what you are using works for you why fix it?